#ScienceAfrica and Africa Data ChallengeHouse of Lords - Mar. 16th, 2015

Bioinformatics approaches to Genomics

Africa Data Challenge

Dr Jelena Aleksic, Ms Ibukun Akinrinade and Dr Sarah Hoey

…/TReNDinAfrica

@TReNDinAfrica

trendinafrica.org

Who are TReND in Africa?

Courses and Workshops- Insect Neuroscience and neurogenetics- Building Extracellular Amplifiers- Molecular Biology- Bioinformatics approaches to NGS- Epigenetics and neurological disorders

Donations, Outreach and Innovation- Equipment donations shipped- Outreach projects supported- 3D printing lab equipment- TReNDberry Pi and Arduino Projects- Leveraging Open-Source Soft/Hardware

TReND in Africa: Founded 2011

TReND and the Africa Data Challenge

TReND in Africa – PEIBioinformatics Approaches to Genomics

Computational Biology WorkshopIcipe, Nairobi, Kenya

November 2015

21st CenturyHuman genome sequencing and the dawn of “Big Data”- driven biology

2014“A Data Revolution for Sustainable Development” & “Africa’s Scientific Independence”

Course extension“Train the trainers” to run their own bioinformatics courses

Staff from Bingham University, Nigeria

The promise of computational biology

Bioinformatics: Low cost and scientifically powerful.

A lot of data and tools are freely availableIt is mainly expertise that is required to analyse and use them.

~£25

Lower overheads and need for specialised equipment make this a promising area for developing cutting edge, low cost research

Computers can also be low cost.

How we run our workshops

African-led- Researchers at participating institutions select the topics

and focus of the workshops for further technical training. - The workshops are run collaboratively.

Pan-African participation- The students attend our courses from across the African

continent. - As well as valuable technical training, this provides a

strong peer network and follow-on support.

Hands on / intensive- Our workshops provide immersive training in the most cutting-edge research techniques in bioinformatics.

The instructors- TReND is a network of volunteer scientists from top world

universities. - The trainers at our workshops are experts in their fields.

Instructors were shipped from worldwide

What our students say about us

“You have ignited in me a real passion. This is the best course I ever attended”

“Working on real data enhanced our grasp of the theory”

“The choice of topics were superb”

“The lecturers were knowledgeable andpassionate about their topics”

“The ‘do it yourself’ approach enabledthe students to learn the material

faster and better”

“The practical lessons were very well conducted and no-one was left behind”

“Very engaging. You wouldn’t leave a classwithout learning something.”

Our partners

Dr Daniel Masiga (icipe, Kenya)• Head of Molecular Biology at icipe• Performing cutting edge research• Involved in scientific capacity building in Africa

Ms Ibukun Akinrinade (University of Bingham, Nigeria)• Neuroscience researcher• Science advocate• Organising and promoting workshops in West Africa

The course timeline

May 2015- Course is publicly announced. Call for applications

November 2015- Course takes place at icipe, Nairobi

Train the trainers: University of Bingham staff will get a special place at the course, including a lot of 1:1 time with each of the lecturers, to train them to deliver the same course at their home university.

December 2015 – February 2016- Analysis of pre- and post-course questionnaires and student feedback- Continued support of Bingham staff in preparation of their home course- Seeking of finance for the Bingham University course

March 2016- The University of Bingham run their own course, with financial support from TReND

Timeline

Participants= 30

30+ colleagues /participant = 900+

200+ students /participant= 6000+

Young people in outreach= 100+

1st year benefit= 7000+

Bioinformatics approaches to Genomics

Impact, Benefit and Longevity

Enhanced knowledge and skills of African scientists- Acquisition of skills in computational biology - Advance individual research projects- A new generation of data analysts

Improved research capacity across Africa - Students from different academic institutions - Expertise and skills back to home departments

Improved undergraduate teaching - African scientists begin lecturing after undergraduate degree- Improved training & course materials for undergraduates

Outreach initiatives - TReND course alumni are keen to reach young people- Improved scientific education -> more African scientists- Drive towards scientific independence for Africa

Plus Bingham staff-taught participants

… as well as their colleagues and students.

Innovation and Monitoring

Bioinformatics approaches to Genomics

Monitoring- Pre- and post-course questionnaires- Small groups working together- Instructor-supervised hands-on

experience- Post-course presentations

Innovation- Teaching the latest bioinformatics skills- Sharing open-access course material- Using open-source data and technologies- African students in an African university- Students from across the continent

Acquisition of unavailable skillsFostering a new generation of data analysts

Putting African scientists on-par with developed countries

Propelling Africa towards scientific independence

Thank you!

#ScienceAfrica and Africa Data ChallengeHouse of Lords - Mar. 16th, 2015…/TReNDinAfrica

@TReNDinAfrica

trendinafrica.org